Cap for fluid container with threaded neck

ABSTRACT

The present invention employs a plastic snap-on cap which engages both the neck crown of a container having a rectangular body and a neck having screw threads and is internally threaded to engage the neck threads of the conventional container. A foam gasket under the top of the cap prevents leakage by sealing against the neck lip. The cap has internal threads which snap over and then engage under the neck threads. Vertical &#34;barriers&#34; below the cap threads prevent unscrewing the cap so long as the cap skirt is intact. Score lines extend from the bottom edge of the cap skirt to above the internal cap bead which engages the neck crown and extend up to the cap threads. A tear tab is used to tear a vertical strip of the skirt which extends up between the score lines. The cap is thus tamper-evident since it cannot be removed so long as the cap is intact but can be removed by tearing the aforementioned strip. In one modification, a well is formed in the center of the cap. The open bottom of the well is closed by a plug which engages the upper end of a water-cooler dispenser tube and is pushed into the container when in use and returned to closed position when the container is removed from the dispenser.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/016,577 filed Feb. 10,1993, now abandoned which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 07/772,949 filed Oct. 8, 1991 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,125 issuedAug. 3, 1993.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a new and improved cap for a fluid containerwith threaded neck. More particularly, the invention relates to asnap-on cap for a bottle neck having a crown finish with a super-imposedthreaded finish.

2. Description of the Related Art

Plastic push-on bottle caps for use with container necks having a crownfinish with a super-imposed threaded finish are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos.3,392,860 and 3,979,002 as well as elsewhere in the art. The presentinvention provides a cap which engages both the crown finish of the neckand the threaded finish. Further, means is provided whereby the capcannot be removed from the neck without tearing off a portion of the capand hence the cap is tamper-evident. The use of an external rib toengage the inside of a water dispenser and cooler is shown in U.S. Pat.No. 5,123,555.

Push-on caps have been in public use by the assignee of thisApplication. However, the use of barriers to prevent unscrewing the caphas not previously been known in the art.

The use of foam disks on the undersides of the tops of plastic caps toseal against the lip of a neck are also known in the art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Two basic forms of cap are disclosed, both used to close the neck of abottle of the type having a crown positioned below the lip with arestricted diameter portion above the crown and a screw thread aroundthe restricted diameter portion. Bottles of this type have been usedcommercially. The lower portion of the bottle is usually rectangular incross-section so that a plurality of bottles may be stacked on top ofeach other without the necessity of using pallets. Such bottles haveheretofore been closed by a metal screw cap having threads engaging thethreads on the bottle. To make the system tamper-evident, a plasticsnap-on overcap has been used. However, stacking of bottles causesincreased hydraulic pressure to be exerted on the bottom bottles, andthis is aggravated by hydraulic "hammer" resulting from transportationby truck. This has resulted in leakage.

The use of a metal screw cap has been found somewhat undesirable becauseof its tendency to rust.

Another development in use in water bottles is the emergence of a typecap which remains on the bottle and is provided with sealing means toprevent leakage from the bottle when it is installed in a waterdispenser and also when it has been removed. The aforesaid metal capsand plastic overcaps have not been found adaptable to this newdevelopment.

The use of caps, such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,392,860 and3,979,002, in stacked bottle installations has been found to beunsatisfactory, because during transport the "hydraulic hammer" forcesthe cap upward on the neck. If a foam liner is used under the top of thecap, such liner tends to separate from the neck as the cap is forcedupward.

In one form of the present invention, a plastic push-on type cap is usedhaving a top under which is installed foam plastic disk gasket. Theskirt of the cap has a restricted diameter upper portion which isinternally threaded. Vertical "barriers" are formed below the internalthread, preventing the cap from being removed from the neck threads solong as the cap is intact. Below the restricted upper portion, the skirtexpands outwardly and has an internal locking bead which snaps over andengages the underside of the crown finish of the neck. The lower skirtportion extends downwardly and frictionally engages the exterior of theneck.

Vertical tear lines extend up from the bottom edge of the cap to theregion of the internal threads and a tear tab is provided which, whenpulled, tears the cap along the score lines.

In installing the cap, the tear tab provides an orientation means whichaligns the cap threads with respect to the neck threads so that when thecap is forced axially downwardly over the neck, the cap threads expandoutwardly to clear the neck threads and then contract to mate with theneck threads, thereby insuring that the cap does not have to be screwedonto the neck. Simultaneously, the lower portion of the skirt seats onthe crown of the cap and the locking bead seats under the crown bead ofthe neck.

In a modification the barriers are formed on the external threads of theneck rather than on the internal threads of the cap.

In another form of the invention, the cap is formed with a central wellin the top, and the open bottom of the well is closed by a plug. In thisform of the invention, the foam gasket under the cap top is in the formof an annular ring which seals against the neck lip.

The foregoing cap remains on the bottle as it is installed in the waterdispenser. A probe in the dispenser engages the plug, permitting waterto flow into the dispenser and permitting air to flow into the bottle todisplace the water dispensed. The probe engages the plug and pushes itinto the bottle as the bottle is fully seated in the dispenser. When thebottle is removed from the dispenser, the probe retracts the plug intothe well thereby preventing water from spilling as the bottle iswithdrawn from the dispenser. In other respects the second type capresembles that of the two previously mentioned cap and neckcombinations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part ofthis specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a neck and a cap, the cap being cut awayin vertical cross-section.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view through the cap andneck in assembled condition.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a modified cap.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of the modification of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to a portion of FIG. 1 modification wherein thebarriers to cap removal are located on the container neck rather than onthe cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of theinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with thepreferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intendedto limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, theinvention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications andequivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

The cap of the present invention is used on a water bottle, the body ofwhich (not shown) is generally rectangular in cross-section so that anumber of bottles which are horizontally disposed may be stacked on topof each other. The neck 11 of such a bottle has a lip 12 from whichdepends a restricted diameter cylindrical vertical stretch 13. One turnof screw thread 14 is applied to the stretch 13 and is generallyslightly greater than 360° in extent. Below vertical stretch 13 is anenlarged external bead or crown 16 and below the crown 16 is a concaveportion 17 and below portion 17 is a generally cylindrical portion 18.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, cap 21 has a top 22which is circular and a vertical skirt stretch 23 depends from theperiphery of top 22. A slightly less than 360° internal screw thread 24is formed on the interior of the vertical stretch 23. Vertical barriers26 are formed on the interior surface of stretch 23 extending downwardlyfrom thread 24. One barrier 26 extends down from the top of thread 24(herein 0° of angle) to the level of the lower end of thread 24 (herein360° of angle) and other barriers 26 are angularly spaced apart alongthread 24 and also extend to the level of the lower end of thread 24.The presence of barriers 26 prevents the cap from being removed, so longas the cap is intact. An alternative is to place barriers on the bottleneck as shown by 66, FIG. 5 as described below.

Below vertical stretch 23 cap 21 expands downwardly and outwardly in aslanted stretch 27 and below the stretch 27 is a second vertical stretch28. On the exterior of the lower portion of stretch 28 is a flat outerbead 29. On the interior of bead 29 is an internal locking bead 31 whichengages under crown 16 of neck 11. Below locking bead 31 the skirt 33tapers downwardly to engage the surface 18 of neck 11 below concaveportions 17.

Extending below bottom edge 34 of skirt 33 is a tear tab 38. To eitherside of tab 38 extending upward from bottom edge 34 are score lines 36which extend vertically upwardly to about the level of slanted stretch27.

Breaks 32 in the otherwise continuous locking bead 31 allow the thinnedscore lines to extend to the slanted stretch 27.

A foam disk 39 which is circular in shape is installed on the undersideof top 22.

At the time of installation of cap 21 on neck 11, tear tab 38 isoriented with respect to the threads 14 and threads 14 are easilyoriented by reason of the rectangular cross-section of the body of thebottle. When the cap 21 is pushed axially downwardly without rotationonto neck 11, bead 31 slips over the crown 16. Thread 24 expands andslips over thread 14. By reason of the orientation of the cap 21relative to the neck 11, the threads 24 and 14 interengage tightly andthere is no need to screw the cap onto the neck. Foam disk 39 seals onthe lip 12. Despite water hammer during transportation, the foam disk39, the seating of the threads 14 and 24 and the seating of the bead 31and crown 16 make the cap water-tight. Furthermore, it is alsotamper-evident since the barriers 26 prevent the cap from beingunscrewed so long as the cap is intact.

The consumer grips the tear tab 38 and pulls upwardly so that the captears along the tear lines 36. With the lower portion of the caploosened it is possible for the consumer to then remove the upperportion of the cap, providing access to the contents of the container.

Turning now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings,the neck 11 of the container is identical to that of the precedingmodification. The top 22a is formed with a central well 46. An internalbead 47 is formed near the bottom of well 46 and above the open end 48thereof. Slidable within well 46 is a plug 51 having a cylindrical body52 and a closed lower end 53. An extension 54 below body 52 and end 53is engaged by bead 47. Below end 48 is an outward extending flange 56.In this form of cap, there is an annular foam ring 61 which sealsagainst lip 12.

The cap 21a is installed on neck 11 in essentially the same manner asthe cap of FIGS. 1 and 2. The cap is intended for use with a particulartype water dispenser and when used with such a dispenser the cap 21a isnot removed by the consumer. Upon inversion of the container, a probe onthe water dispenser (not shown) pushes plug 51 so that air enters thebottle and water begins to be emitted. The plug 51 seats on the probewith the result that after the plug 51 is pushed out from the well 46and into the interior of the bottle, it remains attached to thedispenser probe. After the contents of the bottle have beensubstantially depleted, when the bottle is removed, the probe of thedispenser pulls the plug 51 back into the well 46 so that the remainingcontent of the bottle does not spill.

When the bottle is returned to the bottling works, the tear tab 37a ispulled, enabling the cap 21a to be removed from the neck and discarded.In many respects the modification of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and4 resembles that of the preceding modification and the same referencenumerals followed by the subscript a are used to designate correspondingparts.

It will be understood that threads 14, 14a, 24 and/or 24a may becontinuous or interrupted.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modification of either of the two previousstructures. Upward extending barriers 66 are angularly spaced apartalong external screw threads 14b of neck 11b. One barrier 66 extends upfrom the lower end of thread 14b to the level of the upper end of thread14b. Other barriers 66 are angularly spaced apart along thread 14b. Thecap (not shown) used with neck 11b of FIG. 5 is similar to that of FIG.1 or 3 except that it needs no barriers. Barriers 66 function the sameas barriers 26 of FIG. 1 to prevent the cap from being removed so longas it is intact.

The modifications of FIGS. 3 and 4 and FIG. 5 resemble those of thepreceding modifications and the same reference numerals followed bysubscripts a and b respectively.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the presentinvention have been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to bestexplain the principles of the invention and its practical application,to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize theinvention and various embodiments with various modifications as aresuited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scopeof the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. In combination, a cap and a container having aneck having a lip, a cylindrical portion below said lip formed with anexternal first screw thread and a crown bead below said cylindricalportion,said cap comprising a top and a skirt depending from said top,said skirt having a restricted diameter cylindrical upper stretch formedwith an internal second screw thread positioned and dimensioned whensaid cap is installed on said neck to mate with said first screw thread,an enlarged diameter stretch below said upper stretch positioned anddimensioned to engage said crown bead and an internal locking beadpositioned and dimensioned to engage the underside of said crown bead,and at least one barrier integral with said skirt extending downwardfrom said second screw thread and extending downward to a position tointersect said first screw thread to block unscrewing of said caprelative to said neck, said cap being formed of a resilient plasticwhereby said second screw thread expands to slip over said first screwthread when said cap is pushed axially downward on said neck withoutrelative rotation of said cap and said neck, said container having firstorientation means, said cap further comprising second orientation meanscooperable with said first orientation means whereby when said cap ispushed axially downward on said neck said first screw thread and saidsecond screw thread are in registration.
 2. A cap according to claim 1which further comprises a gasket on the underside of said top to sealsaid cap to said lip.
 3. A cap according to claim 2 in which said gasketis of foam plastic.
 4. A cap according to claim 1 in which said skirtextends below said enlarged diameter stretch to a bottom edge, a teartab extending below said bottom edge and a tear line formed in said skinadjacent said tear tab extending up from said bottom edge to said upperstretch.
 5. A cap according to claim 4 in which said tear line issubstantially vertically disposed and which further comprises a secondtear line approximately parallel to said first-mentioned tear linedisposed on the side of said tear tab opposite said first mentioned tearline extending up from said bottom edge to said upper stretch.
 6. A capaccording to claim 4 which further comprises at least one break in saidinternal locking bead whereby said tear line traverses said internallocking bead.
 7. A cap according to claim 1 in which a well is formed insaid top, the lower end of said well being open and which furthercomprises a plug slidable in said well between a first position sealingsaid well from the interior of said container to a second positionopening communication from the interior to the exterior of saidcontainer.
 8. A cap according to claim 7 in which said plug furthercomprises attachment means for detachably securing said plug to anexternal dispenser probe.
 9. A cap according to claim 7 which furthercomprises an annular gasket on the underside of said top around saidwell to seal said cap to said lip.
 10. A cap for use with a containerneck having a lip, a cylindrical portion below said lip formed with anexternal first screw thread and a crown bead below said cylindricalportion,said cap comprising a top and a skin depending from said top,said skirt having a restricted diameter cylindrical upper stretch formedwith an internal second screw thread positioned and dimensioned whensaid cap is installed on said neck to mate with said first screw thread,an enlarged diameter stretch below said upper stretch positioned anddimensioned to engage said crown bead and an internal locking beadpositioned and dimensioned to engage the underside of said crown bead,said second screw thread extending helically from 0° of angle at anorigin of said thread to approximately 360° of angle at a terminus ofsaid thread and at least one barrier extending downwardly fromapproximately said 0° of angle to approximately said 360° of angle, saidone barrier being integral with said skirt, and a plurality of downwardextending second barriers integral with said skirt angularly spacedapart from said first-mentioned barrier and depending from said secondscrew thread.
 11. In combination, a container neck and a cap,saidcontainer neck having a lip, a cylindrical portion below said lip formedwith an external first screw thread and a crown bead below saidcylindrical portion, said cap comprising a top and a skirt dependingfrom said top, said skirt having a restricted diameter cylindrical upperstretch formed with an internal second screw thread mating with saidfirst screw thread and an enlarged diameter stretch below said upperstretch shaped to engage said crown bead and an internal locking beadengaging the underside of said crown bead, at least one barrierextending substantially vertically downward relative to one of saidscrew threads to intersect the other said screw thread to blockunscrewing of said cap relative to said neck so long as said cap isintact, said barrier being integral with said one of said screw threadsand means to tear a portion of said skirt to release said cap from saidneck, and said second screw thread extending helically from 0° of angleat an origin of said second screw thread to approximately 360° of angleat a terminus of said second screw thread and in which said at least onebarrier is on said cap and extends downwardly from approximately 0° ofangle of said second screw thread to approximately said 360° of angle ofsaid second screw thread.
 12. In combination, a container neck and acap,said container neck having a lip, a cylindrical portion below saidlip formed with an external first screw thread and a crown bead belowsaid cylindrical portion, said cap comprising a top and a skirtdepending from said top, said skirt having a restricted diametercylindrical upper stretch formed with an internal second screw threadmating with said first screw thread and an enlarged diameter stretchbelow said upper stretch shaped to engage said crown bead and aninternal locking bead engaging the underside of said crown bead, atleast one barrier extending substantially vertically downward relativeto one of said screw threads to intersect the other said screw thread toblock unscrewing of said cap relative to said neck so long as said capis intact, said barrier being integral with said one of said screwthreads and means to tear a portion of said skirt to release said capfrom said neck, and in which said first screw thread extends helicallyfrom 0° of angle at an origin of said first screw thread toapproximately 360° of angle at a terminus of said first screw thread andin which said at least one barrier is on said neck and extends upwardlyfrom approximately said 360° of angle of said first screw thread toapproximately 0° of angle of said first screw thread.